Students honored for community building
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Recognized as champions for justice, civil rights and world peace, four West Virginia Universityundergraduate students are the recipients of the prestigious 2025 Martin Luther King Jr. Scholarship.
Selected by the Center for Black Culture based on an essay and letters of recommendation, Tysa James, Janelle LaBarbera, Cheyenne Torres and Gabrielle Williams were honored at the annual MLK Unity Breakfast on Jan. 18 in the Mountainlair Ballrooms.
Tysa James, a junior political science major minoring in criminology and philosophy from Fairmont, plans to use her degrees to help find solutions for achieving social change and promoting equality.
She serves as a member of the National Society of Black Engineers and Black Student Union and social committee chairwoman of Women in Law. James is also a service co-chair for the National Society of Collegiate Scholars and volunteers her time to the Appalachian Prison Book Project.
"It's an incredible honor to be a recipient of the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Scholarship," James said. "I am so grateful for my community, family and friends. And I am so blessed to have the opportunities, wisdom and courage to advance Dr. King's legacy."
Janelle LaBarbera, a senior entrepreneurship and innovation major minoring in event planning from Redbank, New Jersey, aspires to grow socially responsible small businesses in the United States.
LaBarbera led a team of students to support the financial sustainability of the local nonprofit Libera, which aims to remove barriers that hold back young Black women in West Virginia from reaching their full potential and achieving their dreams. She also worked through the Morris L. Hayhurst LaunchLab to develop a mobile app designed to empower young men and women of color to embrace and celebrate their natural curly hair.
"This recognition not only reaffirms my dedication to academic excellence and community service," LaBarbera said. "I deeply appreciate the generosity of those who made this award possible, and I am committed to upholding the values and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. through my academic, professional and community endeavors."
Cheyenne Torres, a sophomore psychology and art therapy dual major from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, plans to use her insights to help other navigate the mix of emotions that individuals are experiencing in a tumultuous world.
An outreach coordinator at U92 the Moose who is committed to promoting diversity and inclusion on campus, Torres serves as a member of the WVU Collegiate Chapter of the National Association of the Advancement of Colored People, Black Student Union and 100 Black Women. She is also an active researcher with the Research Apprentice Program, where she works alongside faculty to address gender and racial disparities within STEM fields.
"Winning a scholarship award that honors King Jr. and his legacy is truly an honor," Torres said. "No matter how many times people may try to erase our rich history, they can never take away the incredible strides he has made for racial justice in the world, and the hunger, passion and dedication that continues."
Gabrielle Williams, a junior criminology major minoring in forensic and investigative science and military science from Palm Beach, Florida, plans to leverage her degree to advocate for a just society rooted in fairness for all in the world.
She is a cadet in the WVU Army ROTC Mountaineer Battalion who is working to foster a culture of respect and understanding among her peers while empowering Black women on campus as a member of the Black Student Union and 100 Black Women.
"Martin Luther King Jr. was my inspiration while growing up and someone who I aspire to be as a person and a leader," Williams said. "I am deeply grateful to be chosen by the Center for Black Culture for this award and all that they do for Black students at WVU."
The Center for Black Culture also recognized Gregory Epps for his exceptional contributions to both the academic and broader communities of West Virginia by naming him as the recipient of the 2025 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Lifetime Achievement Award.
As a senior advisor and program manager for the Health Sciences Center, Epps has left a lasting impact on student success, leadership development and community engagement.
"Whether it be in higher education, communities or anywhere else, I want to be able to have a positive impact on people's lives to the best of my ability -- that's my driving force," Epps said. "I am a promoter not a divider. When we work in unity, we can all make a tremendous difference in the lives of others."